My point is that pios fulfill several roles, meaning they're not available to every single tank all over the map at all times, and having to produce a weak unit just for repairs is not an advantage. You have two ways of repairing instead of one, which is a good thing. Why do you think it is a doctrinal ability for OKW? I never commented on arty in regards with crew repairs, so I think you have misunderstood something with your last comment.
Sure pios have other things to do than repairing but when something needs repairing you can be pretty sure your grenadiers ain´t gonna do it. So I wouldn´t say it´s a bad idea to train maybe second one when you have heavy tanks on the field. Also, while the actual process of repairing might take some time, the order can be given very fast even to multiple vehicles via shift click.
With usf there is this delay before you can queue up the recrew command for vehicle crews which - with multiple shermans for example - begins to add up. Now I don´t think this is game breaking, but maybe still something worth thinking about, as the usf usually need to pursue quality over quantity with their tanks. Not only are your tanks squishier than german heavies, they also require more attention simply because there are more of them to take care of. Add to that the rear exposing pathfinding and micro intensive repairing and you might have a disadvantage.
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